Water Opportunities
In an effort to provide drought relief to Missouri farmers who need fresh water for their farming operations, Missouri State Parks is providing free access to boat launch areas to pump water to fill tanks. Water is available for livestock needs only and not for resale. Farmers will need to provide their own pumping and hauling equipment. Water is accessible during normal park hours.
Hay Opportunities
In an effort to provide drought relief to Missouri farmers who may have trouble obtaining adequate livestock feed for this winter, Missouri State Parks is making available almost 700 acres of specified state park grasslands to be mowed and harvested as hay.
Anyone who is interested in participating in the drought assistance hay program should contact the park superintendent to view the designated area. The first person who views the area and wants the hay shall be issued a license to cut the hay at no cost. Guidelines and boundaries for cutting the hay on state park property will be provided at that time. After the license is signed, individuals may proceed with cutting and harvesting the hay on or after June 25, 2023 and must be removed before Sept. 25, 2023.
The map indicates the approximate area that is available for haying. Acreage figures shown represent only an approximation of the harvestable hay. Specific boundaries will be identified by the park superintendent.
Haying Locations | Haying Guidelines
Haying Locations
Arrow Rock State Historic Site – Arrow Rock, Mo.
Description of Haying Area: 36 +/- acres - East unit, main unit and Lake North
For more information and to schedule a time to view the haying area call: Cindy Imhoff 660-837-3330
Battle of Island Mound State Historic Site - Butler, Mo.
Description of Haying Area: 30 acres - Area behind shelter.
For more information and to schedule a time to view the haying area call: Kenny Neal at Stockton State Park 417-276-4259.
Bryant Creek State Park - Douglas County, Mo.
Description of Haying Area: 50 acres - Near park residence.
For more information and to schedule a time to view the haying area call: Nick Kromrie 417-331-0530.
Castlewood State Park - Ballwin, Mo.
Description of Haying Area: 46 +/- acres - Open Field - Castlewood Loop Trail tract.
For more information and to schedule a time to view the haying area call: David Meeker 636-227-4433.
Crowder State Park - Trenton, Mo.
Description of Haying Area: 56 +/- acres - Shippen Tract - North side of park and Tall Oaks Tract.
For more information and to schedule a time to view the haying area call: Anna Persell 660-359-6473.
Eleven Point State Park – Couch, Mo.
Description of Haying Area: 85+/- acres - Lower fields
For more information and to schedule a time to view the haying area call: Justin Adams 417-532-7161
Ha Ha Tonka State Park - Camdenton, Mo.
Description of Haying Area: 20 acres - Collins Farm area.
For more information and to schedule a time to view the haying area call: Ryan King 573-346-2986.
Harry S Truman State Park – Warsaw, Mo.
Description of Haying Area: 10 acres - Near park office
For more information and to schedule a time to view the haying area call: Brian Miller 417-852-4291
Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park - Middle Brook, Mo.
Description of Haying Area: 30 +/- acres - North of the Black River Center and Open fields - east of the bicycle path and outside of the fen fence
For more information and to schedule a time to view the haying area call: Krista Kennon 573-546-2450.
Long Branch State Park - Macon, Mo.
Description of Haying Area: 92 +/- acres - West side of Visitor Center Rd., Macon Area and Around Bee Trace Boat Ramp, and interior areas of the Bee Trace Area peninsula
For more information and to schedule a time to view the haying area call: Jered Wisdom 660-773-5229.
Pershing State Park - Laclede, Mo.
Description of Haying Area: 12 +/- acres - Mound area south of Highway 36.
For more information and to schedule a time to view the haying area call: Tom Woodward 660-963-2299.
Rock Bridge Memorial State Park - Columbia, Mo.
Description of Haying Area: 50 +/- acres - Grasslands Unit
For more information and to schedule a time to view the haying area call: Ben Nagy 573-449-7402.
Route 66 State Park - Eureka, Mo.
Description of Haying Area: 35 +/- acres - Open fields - ash mound and southwest fields.
For more information and to schedule a time to view the haying area call: Ed Schott 636-938-7198.
Shepherd of the Hills State Park - Taney County, Mo.
Description of Haying Area: 50 acres - Open fields.
For more information and to schedule a time to view the haying area call: Caylen Cantrell at Table Rock State Park 417-334-4704.
St. Francois State Park - Bonne Terre, Mo.
Description of Haying Area: 40 +/- acres - Behind Shelter #2
For more information and to schedule a time to view the haying area call: Alan Lancaster 573-358-2173.
Wallace State Park - Cameron, Mo.
Description of Haying Area: 25 +/- Northeast corner of the park.
For more information and to schedule a time to view the haying area call: Lana Woody 816-632-3745.
Weston Bend State Park – Weston, Mo.
Description of Haying Area: 10 +/- acres - Along Park Road and Bee Creek Shelter Area.
For more information and to schedule a time to view the haying area call: Shanea Frederick 816-640-5443
Haying Guidelines
- Acreage figures noted above represent only an approximation of the harvestable area. Specific boundaries shall be identified by the park superintendent prior to undertaking hay harvesting operations.
- All hay harvested pursuant to this license agreement shall only be available for the applicant’s own personal use.
- Applicants shall not engage in mowing, bailing and hauling of harvested materials during periods when field conditions may cause damage, such as rutting and/or soil erosion, to the fields.
- Requests for extensions to mowing or removal dates due to wet conditions should be directed to the park superintendent.
- Applicant shall remove all bales, stacks and windrows from the Park within 15 days of the harvest.
- Applicant shall only be permitted one cutting for any portion of the permitted area.
- Applicant shall inform the park superintendent when equipment is to be moved to or from the hay fields.
- Applicant shall report any accidental damage to Department-owned property, including fences, gates or grounds, to the park superintendent within 24 hours. The applicant agrees to work with the Department to repair any damage.
- No wildlife or parts thereof shall be maliciously harmed or removed from the Park.
- This license shall be subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws now in effect or any laws that may be hereafter enacted, and all applicable rules of state and federal agencies.
- Failure to comply with the terms and conditions of this license may lead to revocation of the license preventing the applicant from continuing with hay harvest and removal.
- The State of Missouri and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources accept no liability for personal injury or equipment breakdowns due to any abnormal topographical conditions or abnormal vegetative conditions resulting from this license.
- The Missouri Department of Natural Resources reserves the right to modify or reduce any portion the described area from this license at any time.
- The Missouri Department of Natural Resources makes no guarantee as to the quality and quantity of the hay, to the presence of any toxic materials, or to the contaminants that may be contained in the hay or other plant material harvested, and herein assumes no responsibilities to the applicant or users of hay or other plant material harvested from the right-of-way.
- The applicant agrees to defend, indemnify and hold harmless the State of Missouri, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, and the Division of State Parks from any and all liability, loss or damage the Department may suffer as a result of claims, demands, costs or judgements against it arising out of the issuance of this license or applicant’s operations. The applicant acknowledges that all operations are at applicant’s own risk.
- Applicant understands and acknowledges the Park is not traditionally harvested for hay, therefore equipment-damaging debris may be present.
- The applicant agrees to give the Department 48 hours’ notice of intent to start operations. Notification shall be given to the park superintendent.